Studies have shown how being distracted can become a bad habit that ultimately decreases our effectiveness at work or in school.  Psychologists have identified new ways to help people overcome the hurdles that stand in the way of their productivity.  Here are some key strategies to enhance your productivity.

1.  Minimize Interruptions
            We are constantly bombarded by emails, ringing phones, text messages that reek havoc on our productivity.  When you need to concentrate and focus, find ways to create that space.  Put up a "Do Not Disturb" sign on your office door.  Turn your cell phone off.  Put your phone on silent and put the screen face-down so you can't see texts or notifications.  Study after study has shown that we, as humans, are not good at multi-tasking.  We think that we are but we are not.  These interruptions take us away from the task at hand. 

2.  Increase Attention Span in 15 Minute Increments
           One way to increase attention span and productivity, is to take a "technology break" after 15-minutes of uninterrupted work.  Give yourself a study or work break where you can check email, check alerts or texts, after completing 15 minutes of  uninterrupted work.  Once you master working for 15 minutes at a time, start increasing the time before taking a technology break.  Research has shown that taking small breaks allows us to maintain focus.  

3.  Write Down Your Goals To Boost Productivity
          We have all heard that setting goals is important but how to do this can seem elusive.  Establishing a habit of writing down your goals can boost performance and productivity.  The act of writing down a goal seems to make us accountable to the goal.  The act of writing down goals can also help us to become more reflective as we evaluate our goal outcomes and handle problems that may arise.

Here in the Bay Area, school for most children and teenagers is back in session.  While the summer weather still abounds, the school bell has rung, the new school supplies bought, and it is time to head back to school.  And while the transition is never easy, most students and most parents are already starting to dread the homework hassles.  We all know that having a consistent quiet place to do your homework, and to break big projects or large assignments down into smaller, more manageable chunks is best.  You can read a previous blog post of mine about this topic here.

There are plenty of other homework strategies that you might find useful. Here are some good blogs that discuss the homework hassles and how to handle them and thrive!

End the Nightly Homework Struggle: 5 Homework Strategies That Work for Kids

10 Homework Help Tips

8 Strategies that Spell Homework Success

Starting college, students usually have expectations about college life long before they actually leave home.  Some freshmen eagerly look forward to college and experiencing more freedom and adventure.  Other students may be enthusiastic about college initially, but then discover that their actual experience falls short of their expectations.  They don’t feel comfortable, happy, or secure in their new environment.  There are still other students who know that leaving home will be hard and dread the thought of saying good-bye to their friends and family, dread the idea of packing and going to college. 

​Nearly every individual encounters challenging experiences at the beginning of college that they did not anticipate.  The transition to college, a generally positive experience, can produce stress and place demands that can lead to varying emotions including sadness, loneliness, and worry.  These feelings are typical and part of the normal developmental transition to college.

Changes to Expect in the First Year of College

• Increased responsibility
• Increased personal freedom
• Managing time
• Different relationships and environments at college
• Changing relationships with friends and family at home

 
Many students welcome the freedom to make their own decisions about what they want to do each day while in college and other students struggle with this level of freedom.  Freshmen must decide when and how to study, socialize with new acquaintances, become involved in activities, exercise, manage their finances, and make time to eat and sleep. 

Students are faced, often for the first time, with the need to take more initiative to address responsibilities, such as scheduling their classes, buying personal items, making appointments to take care of health needs, asking professors and staff for help, and doing laundry. Freshmen have to adjust to new surroundings and negotiate conflicts with new roommates.

Frequent calls home from freshmen are common, especially during the first few months away at college. It may be very hard to say goodbye at the end of holiday or semester breaks. It may also be difficult to re-adjust to rules at home, such as curfews, chores or responsibilities for younger siblings. It is important to point out that parents also need to adjust during this period.

Many students leave high school boyfriends or girlfriends when they go to college. There may be disagreement about whether it is okay to make new friends or see other people. One, or both, partners may struggle with feeling lonely, sad, or jealous, especially if the other partner seems to be happier and adjusting better.

Easing the Transition:

·       Reach out to others in your dorm. You are likely to find that you are not the only one who is sad and upset. Your R.A. (Resident Adviser) is a good resource to talk to and to help you figure out how to cope. Upperclassmen may also be good people to turn to. They might want to share their experiences with you as well what they did to cope.

·     Join campus organizations and clubs that appeal to you. These activities do not have to be a perfect match for you, but can still help you to meet and interact with others who share similar interests and/or may also be looking to meet friends outside the dorm environment. It helps to get more involved!

·   Make an extra effort to take care of yourself, including making time to rest, eat balanced meals, exercise and avoid abusing alcohol or drugs. Try to develop a manageable schedule, including identifying your optimal place and time in the day to study.

·  Adjust your expectations if things are not working out as you planned. For example, your roommate might not be your best friend. You may need to initiate conversations about conflict over personal space and living habits. Try to give yourself some time to adjust. Recognize that relationships take time to develop (e.g. most students’ friendships from home formed over a period of years), and that your surroundings will become more familiar over time.

·     Seek out resources on campus that can help you address problems and get support, both academically and personally. These varied resources include your adviser, professors, your RA, and other university services such as the Counseling Center and the Student Services Center, Each of these resources will also assist in connecting you with other helpful resources on campus.
 

Homework is important.  By doing homework, children learn a sense of responsibility and accomplishment. Homework helps kids understand that learning doesn't stop at the end of the school day.  Taking pride in homework helps children experience the satisfaction of a job well done.

1. Design a specific, quiet area for homework.  Eliminate as much distraction as possible, including no TV or mobile devices.  Make sure there is adequate lighting.  Keep basic supplies nearby.

2.  Keep a routine.  Have a regular time to do homework each and every day.

3.  Encourage your child to divide the homework assignment into "What I can do myself" and "What I need help with." Only help your child with the homework that they cannot do independently.  This teaches your child responsibility and independence.

4.  When your child is assigned a large project that will require a few days or weeks to finish, help them to schedule their time and to break down the project into manageable pieces.

5.  Teach your child that studying is more than just doing homework. Encourage your child to take notes while reading a chapter, learn to summarize what they have learned in their own words, make flashcards to learn dates, spelling words, a foreign language, or math formulas.

6.  Praise your child!  Encourage them during hard assignments by reminding them of past successes, perhaps in sports, music, or in previously difficult subjects. Use direct praise for doing homework and even more praise for accomplishments, like "You've spelled 18 out of 20 words correctly--that's the best you've done this semester!"

7.  Look over the homework when it's done.  Do not correct it unless you have checked with the teacher.  Seeing the pattern of errors is often helpful to the teacher.

8.  Try not to let any of your own negative experiences keep you from supporting your child's learning.  Let them know how much you care about education by continuing your own learning both informally and formally.

9.  Get to know your child's teacher early in the year.  Find out about homework policies and expectations. Stay in touch with your child's teacher throughout the year.  Remember that you and your child's teacher both want the same thing- to help your child to learn and excel.